Viewing V's Imaging

[circumpolar]

How much time do you spend Visually Observing compared to Imaging when at your telescope?
(binocular viewing not included).

[vash]

I used to view when I first stated out, but then I wanted to capture images to share around. I only do visual work if there is something interesting like a comet etc

[Striker]

Thats easy........what's visual's like anyway...lol

[wavelandscott]

I'm 100% visual...no power and fewer things I can mess up...

The images that many members capture are fabulous but I have little to no understanding of how it is done and very little interest in learning how to do it myself...

My dob with Argo Navis is as complicated as I can handle...after all it is a "PHD"...push here dummy...that describes me well enough...

[Astroman]

I am 100% visual unless I want a pic of the moon.

[mickoking]

100% visual. Hassle free, real time, real object Astronomy :thumbsup:

[RAJAH235]

Strictly vis here too, 'cept for the occassional afocal moon or planet.....:D L.
ps. unless I set up the camera tracker for wide field.

[cjmarsh81]

100% Visual until I work out an imaging device. I have to say though, even when I get photography going I will still spend most of the time on Visual. Pictures are just not the same as sticking your eye up to the scope and looking out into space.

[acropolite]

I ticked 90/10, but really it'a 99.9/.1. I'm still acquiring the necesssary bits for imaging ($$$), although I have dabbled with the LPI that came free with the LX90.

[janoskiss]

All visual, but I did not vote, because mine does not fit:
Visual Only - but do have imaging device.

[Starkler]

Me too and I get to enjoy the fruits of the labours of all the imagers here on IIS ;)

Thanks guys :)

[Robert_T]

getting so I can't remember what and eyepiece is for apart from helping to achieve focus for my Neximager :scared2:

[jackenau]

Also voted 100% visual, but am aquiring the bits and pieces to try a bit of photography.

Visually, I just love the views I get at times. It is instantaneous and spasmodic. Not planned (well at least I know the general area that I am searching, and what generally is going to be in that area), it just appears that some objects often exceed expectations visually.

Viewing sessions for the purpose of astrophotography by others, on the other hand appear to be carefully planned and timed. More often than not many images need to be taken, which must require a lot of patience. The pictures posted here by far, show more often than not, more detail than one can expect to see visually and I for one wait in eager anticipation to see what picture with detail will be posted next.

Thanks to everyone who posts those pictures no matter how inferior they think they are. I sure appreciate the effort that went into just taking the picture for us all to enjoy.

With a bit more patience and a few more bits and pieces I will get there, but for now I will just stick to the old visual.

Ken M

[ausastronomer]

Some years ago after ending up with numerous rolls of Kodak Ektachrome in the garbage can, I realised astro photography was for David Malin and visual observing was for me. The modern technology is starting to make me re think because with digital data capture and processing some truly amazing results can be achieved with modest equipment. In times past, it was better to leave it to the experts like David Malin who also had the benefit of using the taxpayers money to fund equipment to do the amazing stuff, but I am beginning to think about "having a go". I still think my 1st images are a couple of years off however, the eyes have a few more photons to soak up before I start to share them with the camera/computer.

CS-John B

[danielsun]

Just got myself a 350D in Dec. So now i usually do about 60% visual at the start then before closing down i'll take a few shots and call it a night!

[Calin]

My first post, just joined - Noob + to everything. I have had a scope (1st) for almost 10 months now - all vis. Dabbled a bit after a few months with camcorder on moon (no attachments, manual alignment with eye-piece). Then experimented with registax and photoshop - lots to learn. Now turning towards still digital photography- just ordered some attachment gear to put on scope proper. I like the vis and just eye-balling, but I also like the detail in photography and creating something. Naturally all takes some work, even just to pull scope out and set-up. I'd like some memories and a diary + notes with some real pics (instead of drawings) means I came from the 21st century not the 16th. :drink:

[toetoe]

Visual only for me. I still have alot to learn about telescopes before i even think of going down that path.

[cometcatcher]

I'm 90% imaging but have to take a look at the thing anyway. Strangely enough that 10% of visual time occupies my memory more than a piccy ever does. I usually remember something for how it looks rather than how I photographed it. But when I get old, senile and forgetful I'll be lookin at the pictures. :P

[jjjnettie]

I voted 20%/80%.
20% visual only because I have to actually view the planet to be able to line it up for the camera.
Thank goodness I am limited to Lunar and Planetary images 'cause I spend precious little time with the family at night as it is.

[circumpolar]

Good point. I should have given more options. :doh:

[mickoking]

To be more accurate I have done some imaging (very little) but visual is overwhelmingly my path in this great hobby :)

[fringe_dweller]

I agree with that statement, I have an excellent library of comet and other visual images ( brighter than usual comets through Binocs of all kinds figure prominently ) in the memory bank - and I find these much more long sustaining and impressive than any 2 dimensional image. I feel detatched from most images I have ever taken, like a passenger.
But I appreciate both types of AA of course, both have their merits and good points.
I find strictly visual sessions extremely relaxing, liberating and floaty - as opposed to the mad, work like nature, stress and pandemonium of imaging - but in the end final results of imaging are also very, very enjoyable to me, and a great thing to share.
But I also usually try to do both at the same time.
PS , also with visual, writing down a report for yourself for the future, can be as good or better than any image in sparking memories back to life :)
drawings also come under this..

[circumpolar]

I decided to sketch what I saw through my binos of c/2006 A1 on 13 Feb.
It was my first time sketching. The next day I odtained a detailed starmap of the area with the comet included and it matched my drawing exactly (the comet looked like a fuzzy star through the binos). The stars and comet combined to make a trapizium shape.

I will never forget my first sketch!

[lost_in_space]

Visual only at this stage, but only because I do not have the camera or the nouse to get into imaging yet.

[cometcatcher]

I can so relate to that. Must be why I tend to enjoy our astronomy club's viewing nights where we just relax and look at stuff. By comparison I don't think I ever get through an imaging session without swearing a lot! You have me wondering why I do it now. The pretty piccies I guess.

[fringe_dweller]

!!!..for your fellow comet/sprite/astro appreciation friends here! :face:

I think of it as just another different type of fun :)

[iceman]

I mainly do planetary imaging at home, but every new moon or when we go out to our dark sky site, I only ever do visual.

It's tough balancing act, because I like doing both so I'm trying to find a happy medium.

[ving]

hmm... these days its 100% visual, but i have dabbled in pics in the past and will dabble in the future....
i put 90% visual :)

[Lester]

70 visual & 30 imaging. Like the challenge of capturing what cannot be seen visually. Use to do a lot with film, hypering in the 1980; then as the family grew didn't have the money or time to put into my hobby. Now getting into digital and computers, so got to start from scratch as far as the processing goes.

In the past didn't have the help like I have been getting here with IIS.

:scared2: can't sleep now; tooooooo much to learn ;)

[Rodstar]

100% visual for me, for much the same reasons as Wavelandscott stated, except with my LX200. I really couldn't really be bothered with imaging when there is so much to look at with my eyes.

I bought the LX200 with the idea that when I am ready, I can get into imaging. At this stage, if I want a pretty picture, Hubble or this website keeps me satisfied. :)

[sheeny]

In the past I have always been 100% visual. Only in this last year that I've got a scope again and getting back into it that I've started with imaging. So at the moment its about 70% imaging and 30% visual, cause I'm trying to make every opportunity count to learn about imaging... I am intrigued and like to learn, and I find it very challenging, but also very frustrating at times (usually just that the results are not as good as I'd hoped!)

If I ever manage set up an observatory, I might a) improve my imaging and b) do more of it, otherwise I expect I'll gradually drift back to more visual than imaging.

Al.

[Miaplacidus]

It could be that there is something appealingly poetic in the idea of a photon travelling uninterruptedly for millions or even billions of years to finally extinguish itself forever on one of the rods in my retina.

Or it could be that I'm lazy.;)

Brian.